1. The Hepatic Portal System
Brings nutrient rich blood from the small intestine to the liver for processing

2. Arterial system to all of body
Heart
Liver
Arterial system to all of body
Gastric Glands
Water
Digested Food
Hepatic Portal Vein
Stomach
Small Intestine
Large Intestine
Rectum Anus
Mouth
Esophagus
Secretions of pancreas and liver

3. Capillary beds of most tissues drain into veins that lead directly back to the heart.
Blood draining the intestines is an exception.
The veins draining the intestines lead to a second set of capillaries in the liver (via the hepatic portal vein).
The liver removes many of the materials that were absorbed by the intestine.

4. What does the liver do to the absorbed materials?
Glucose removed and converted into glycogen (with help from pancreas)
Other monosaccharides are removed and converted into glucose
Excess amino acids are removed and deaminated
The amino group is converted into urea

5. Liver’s Job
Liver serves as a gatekeeper between the small intestine and general circulation
It screens the blood the reaches it in the hepatic portal system so that the composition of the blood when it leaves the liver will be close to normal for the body